[ LETTER ]

Legal Guardian

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 12:06 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 12:06 a.m.

I was shocked and dismayed when I read the story about the elderly woman at the hands of a professional guardian ["Legal Guardians Have a Lot of Sway Over Wards' Lives," Feb. 3]. I could not believe that a bank employee would contact a guardian directly in a case of suspected financial abuse.

As a former personal banker, I have opened many guardianship accounts on behalf of family members and professional guardians.

I have also witnessed cases of financial abuse and not once did I ever refer a case directly to a guardian.

The proper procedure is to notify the state Department of Children & Families, Elder Abuse Hotline, and it sends a social worker to do an investigation. Then a determination is made as to whether abuse exists, and the agency takes the necessary legal steps.

There are many other options that can be pursued first before just stripping a person of rights and property.

A simple bladder infection in a younger person can render an elderly person (usually asymptomatic) lethargic and confused, with signs of dementia, but once the infection is treated the recovery is nothing short of remarkable.

Jumping the gun and jumping to conclusions for what appears to be financial gain for more than one person involved in the case that The Ledger brought to light is quite apparent.

I would expect that law enforcement would be investigating this matter from every angle. Who was offering incentives to whom?

This was a grave and serious disservice to this woman. Those involved should face legal consequences.

<p>I was shocked and dismayed when I read the story about the elderly woman at the hands of a professional guardian ["Legal Guardians Have a Lot of Sway Over Wards' Lives," Feb. 3]. I could not believe that a bank employee would contact a guardian directly in a case of suspected financial abuse.</p><p>As a former personal banker, I have opened many guardianship accounts on behalf of family members and professional guardians.</p><p>I have also witnessed cases of financial abuse and not once did I ever refer a case directly to a guardian.</p><p>The proper procedure is to notify the state Department of Children & Families, Elder Abuse Hotline, and it sends a social worker to do an investigation. Then a determination is made as to whether abuse exists, and the agency takes the necessary legal steps.</p><p>There are many other options that can be pursued first before just stripping a person of rights and property.</p><p>A simple bladder infection in a younger person can render an elderly person (usually asymptomatic) lethargic and confused, with signs of dementia, but once the infection is treated the recovery is nothing short of remarkable.</p><p>Jumping the gun and jumping to conclusions for what appears to be financial gain for more than one person involved in the case that The Ledger brought to light is quite apparent.</p><p>I would expect that law enforcement would be investigating this matter from every angle. Who was offering incentives to whom?</p><p>This was a grave and serious disservice to this woman. Those involved should face legal consequences.</p><p>DEE HOWARD</p><p>Lakeland</p>